As a newcomer to this community, I'm so thankful I found this incredibly detailed discussion about the AERO process! I'm 62 and just started collecting Social Security about 2 months ago while working part-time as a retail manager. My current earnings are definitely higher than several years in my 30s when I was going through a divorce and had to take lower-paying jobs just to get by. I honestly had no clue that Social Security would automatically recalculate benefits based on continued earnings - like so many others here, I thought once you started collecting, that amount was locked in forever! Reading everyone's experiences about the October-December timing and knowing it's completely automatic has been such a huge relief. I was actually dreading having to call SSA after all the horror stories about endless hold times. I'll absolutely be checking my earnings record on my.ssa.gov to make sure everything is being reported properly. Since I'm not quite at full retirement age yet, I'm being careful to stay under the earnings limit, but it's encouraging to know that my part-time work can still potentially increase my future benefits. Even if the increase turns out to be modest like many of the examples shared, every little bit helps with rising costs. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative discussion - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that's impossible to find in official government materials!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly informative discussion about the AERO process! I'm 71 and have been collecting Social Security for about 18 months while working part-time as a substitute teacher. My current earnings are higher than several years in my 20s when I was just starting my teaching career at much lower salary levels. Like many others here, I had no idea that Social Security would automatically recalculate benefits - I genuinely thought my monthly amount was permanently fixed once I started collecting! Learning about the October-December timing for adjustments and that it's completely automatic has been such a relief. I was considering calling SSA to ask about this, but after reading about those awful wait times, I'm so grateful I found this discussion instead. I'll definitely check my earnings record on my.ssa.gov to ensure my substitute teaching income is being reported correctly. Being well past full retirement age means I don't have to worry about earnings limits, which is wonderful. Even if my eventual increase is modest like many examples shared here, it's encouraging to know that staying active in education can still positively impact my benefits. This community discussion has provided exactly the kind of practical, real-world insight that's impossible to find elsewhere - thank you all for sharing your experiences so generously!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly thorough discussion! I've been lurking here while researching this exact issue, and this thread has been more helpful than hours of trying to navigate the SSA website. I'm in a very similar situation - living about 20 minutes from an out-of-state SSA office versus a 75-minute drive to my in-state office. I need to handle some paperwork related to my spouse's survivor benefits, and I've been dreading the long drive. Reading all these real-world experiences from community members who have successfully used cross-state offices has given me the confidence to call the closer location. It's really eye-opening how many people in border areas deal with this same confusion! The confirmation from the federal benefits administration professional was especially reassuring. I'm calling the nearby office tomorrow to schedule an appointment. This community is such a great resource for navigating these bureaucratic challenges!

This has been such an informative thread! As someone new to this community, I'm amazed by how comprehensive everyone's responses have been. I'm actually facing this exact same dilemma - I live about 30 minutes from an SSA office in the neighboring state, but it's over 2 hours to reach my in-state office. I need to resolve some issues with my disability benefits application, and I've been putting it off because of the distance to "my" office. Reading through all these real-world experiences from community members who've successfully used out-of-state offices for everything from routine updates to complex benefit issues has been incredibly reassuring. The professional insight from Connor about SSA operating as a unified federal system really helped clarify the policy reasoning behind this. It's frustrating that this basic information isn't more prominently displayed on the SSA website, given how many people in border areas seem to face this confusion. I'm definitely going to call the closer office this week to schedule my appointment. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to save so many people unnecessary stress and travel time!

What an incredibly comprehensive and valuable discussion thread! As someone who's currently navigating pre-retirement planning with multiple deferred compensation arrangements, this has been absolutely enlightening. The journey from three contradictory phone responses to a clear written determination really demonstrates the critical importance of persistence when dealing with complex Social Security issues. I'm particularly struck by how the local office specialist was able to provide definitive guidance based on the specific factors in your agreement - something the phone representatives clearly weren't equipped to handle. Your systematic approach has given me a perfect roadmap for my own situation: gather complete documentation, visit the local office in person, request a "formal determination regarding deferred compensation and earnings test applicability," and most importantly, get everything in writing. The key factors the specialist identified - payments continuing regardless of minimal services, compensation for past work, and no correlation between current services and payment amounts - provide an excellent framework for evaluating any deferred compensation arrangement. This thread should definitely be preserved as a resource for anyone facing similar situations. The collective knowledge shared here, from the HR perspective on documentation to the professional insights on timing, creates a comprehensive guide that's far more valuable than any individual consultation. Thank you to everyone who contributed their experiences and expertise - you've created something truly helpful for the community!

This thread is absolutely incredible - what a masterclass in how to handle complex Social Security determinations! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but never posted, I felt compelled to contribute because this discussion has been so valuable. I'm currently 61 and have been putting off early retirement specifically because of uncertainty around how my deferred compensation would interact with Social Security earnings limits. Reading through everyone's experiences, especially the original poster's journey from confusion to clarity, has given me the confidence to move forward with getting my own formal determination. The contrast between the inconsistent phone advice and the expertise of the local office specialist really highlights a gap in SSA's phone support system for complex issues. It's concerning that people could make major financial decisions based on incorrect phone guidance, but it's also reassuring to know there's a reliable path to accurate information through the local offices. I'm particularly grateful for the HR professional's advice about what documentation to request from employers. I never would have thought to ask specifically about Box 1 vs Box 11 reporting, but that could make all the difference in how SSA treats these payments. This thread should definitely be featured as a community resource - it's the most comprehensive guide I've seen anywhere on navigating deferred compensation and Social Security earnings test issues. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! $15,000 is a significant amount to have tied up for over 2 years. Based on all the excellent advice shared in this thread, it sounds like you now have a comprehensive action plan that should finally get results. I'd especially recommend starting with the Inspector General complaint since multiple people have had success with that approach. The fact that every SSA employee acknowledges they owe you the money should definitely work in your favor - you have a clear paper trail showing their acknowledgment of the debt. One additional suggestion: when you implement all these strategies simultaneously, consider creating a simple spreadsheet to track each approach with dates, contact information, and follow-up deadlines. This will help you stay organized and provide concrete documentation if you need to escalate further. You've been incredibly patient, but it's clear that being polite and waiting isn't working. Time to be firm and demand the resolution you deserve. The combination of Inspector General complaint + congressional inquiries + critical payment processing requests should create enough pressure to finally break through their bureaucratic delays. Please keep us updated on which approaches work best - your experience will definitely help others facing similar situations. You've got this!

I've been following this entire thread and I'm amazed at how many helpful strategies everyone has shared! As someone who works in government advocacy, I want to add one more approach that hasn't been mentioned yet: filing a complaint with your state's Attorney General office under their consumer protection division. Many state AGs have dedicated units for federal benefit disputes and can sometimes apply pressure that gets results when other methods fail. Also, when you file that Inspector General complaint (which definitely seems like your best bet), make sure to emphasize the 23-month delay despite written acknowledgment of the debt. The OIG takes cases seriously when there's clear evidence of administrative inefficiency affecting citizens' rightful benefits. One final tip: if you decide to involve a disability attorney as others suggested, look for one who specifically advertises experience with "post-entitlement" issues, not just initial applications. These attorneys understand the payment processing side of SSA better than general disability lawyers. You've received such a wealth of actionable advice here - the combination of Inspector General complaint, congressional inquiries, critical payment processing, and state liaison office should absolutely get this moving. Twenty-three months is beyond reasonable for ANY government payment processing. Time to make some noise and get your $15K!

I'm really sorry you're going through this challenging situation. After reading through all the responses, I think you've gotten some excellent advice that should give you peace of mind about the timing. Since your husband is already collecting his retirement benefits, you're absolutely right that you won't need to wait the 2-year period after divorce - that rule only applies when the ex-spouse hasn't started collecting yet. The fact that you're 60 now actually gives you some breathing room. By the time you turn 62 and can claim divorced spouse benefits, your divorce will likely be finalized, so everything should align timing-wise. I'd also suggest creating a checklist of all the documents you'll need when you do apply - certified copy of your final divorce decree, marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc. Having everything organized ahead of time can make the application process smoother when you're ready to file. One more thought: while you're waiting and planning, consider whether there are any opportunities to increase your own Social Security credits by working more if that's feasible for you. Even a couple more years of higher earnings could potentially boost your own benefit calculation. Wishing you strength as you navigate this major life transition. You're asking all the right questions and planning thoughtfully, which will serve you well.

I want to add something that might be helpful for your planning - once you do start receiving divorced spouse benefits, they won't affect your ex-husband's benefits at all. His payments will stay the same whether you claim on his record or not. This is different from current spouse benefits, where there can be interactions between what each spouse receives. Also, keep in mind that divorced spouse benefits are calculated based on your ex-husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - which is what he would receive at his full retirement age, not necessarily what he's actually receiving now if he claimed early or delayed his benefits. So even if he took reduced benefits by claiming before his FRA, your divorced spouse benefit calculation would still be based on his unreduced amount. This might actually work in your favor depending on when he started collecting. Just another factor to consider when you're running those benefit comparisons everyone has mentioned. The SSA representatives should be able to explain exactly how this would work in your specific situation when you're ready to apply.